Favorite Banana Bread

Nothing better than Banana Bread fresh from the oven!

 My kids and I love banana bread! When dad and Robyn came last week they bought bananas, since the ones I had from my last bountiful basket weren't edible. They were seriously green when I got them so I left out to ripen but they never did. They just stayed green and got really, really dry and tough. Weird! Well, dad, you'll be happy to know that the bananas you bought ripened beautifully and are now delicious bread!
 When I started this blog I decided I wanted to include some of my favorite recipes as I made them. This is probably more for me than anyone else. I love to try new things and experiment with old favorites but I never write it down and then I forget what I've done or how I did it. Major bummer when I want to do it again or else I just never do it again because I forget. What a waste of time and effort! So, here is my recipe for banana bread; a Sunday afternoon favorite. Notice above that two loaves look different. That is because I tried something new and found I really liked it (kids approve also:). I poured half of the regular batter into two medium loaf pans and then added two scant tablespoons of cocoa powder along with about 1/3 cup (or whatever was left in the bag) of extra dark chocolate chips to the other half of the batter before putting it into two more loaf pans. I figured too much chocolate flavor would totally overpower the banana flavor and I didn't want that but I think I got it just about right. Chocolate goes so well with banana, I think. So does peanut butter I'm told but I don't really agree. I'm sure if someone wanted a peanut butter banana bread it would be pretty easy to work into this recipe (maybe add about 1/3 to 1/2 cup peanut butter and replace some of butter and yogurt with it) but I am not Elvis and do not love the flavor combo. Now, chocolate and banana on the other hand, YUM!


BANANA BREAD
1 c. Butter or Margarine (but everything is better with butter:)
4 eggs
2 1/2 c. sugar
1/2 pt. plain yogurt (but I'll use whatever I've got if I don't have plain and tastes great still)
1 T. baking powder
4 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
5 bananas, mashed
chopped nuts (optional; I'm the only one who likes the flavor of finely chopped nuts occasionally)
Combine ingredients as if making a cake. That means cream butter, eggs, sugar and yogurt. Combine dry ingredients and then add gradually to the creamed mixture. Lastly, add mashed bananas, vanilla and nuts (if wanted). Bake at 350 in well greased loaf pans for about 50 minutes. I've found it yields about 4 medium loaves.

Special Visitors

 The kids LOVED having grandparents come and stay!

 Caught a rare newborn smile with Grandpa and Grandma!

                Sweet baby Weston! love love love....


Okay people, this is my very first post ever and I have no idea what I am doing so go easy on me and don't expect too much! Grandpa and grandma Eastin came to visit last weekend and can I just say how great that was! I have to admit that I was feeling pretty good and felt bad watching Robyn clean my house, do my dishes, clean out the fridge, wash my car, and everything else but now to have that done and off the list of "to dos"; wow, nice feeling! It would have taken me forever. All I seem to have time to do lately is feed the baby, change the baby, repeat repeat repeat, and get myself ready for the day, if I'm lucky, by lunch time! The kids adored having Dad and Robyn here, showing them all the animals, having help with their chores, taking their bikes up to the walking path, going to the livestock auction, shopping in Vernal, and just being with them! So blessed to have parents that love me and my family and take the time and put forth the effort to show it! Well, I've got dishes to do while the baby naps so better finish up. Where's Robyn when you need her?! :)